The project
A nursery in Cambridge needed to replace its ageing gas-fired heating system with a lower-carbon alternative. The new solution had to provide reliable heating while the work was carefully planned around the building’s occupants and the needs of a working nursery.
We were appointed as Principal Contractor and managed the project in line with CDM regulations. That included overseeing health and safety, coordinating contractors and keeping the programme on track. The work covered removal of the existing gas boiler system, installation of new three-phase electrical infrastructure, construction of a dedicated plant compound and installation of air source heat pumps with a combined heating capacity of 50 kW.
With several trades involved, the transition needed careful coordination. Our team planned how the electrical upgrades and external plant would be installed, alongside the removal of the old heating system. We worked to manage disruption to building users while maintaining the required health and safety arrangements throughout the project.
Our role as Principal Contractor extended beyond installing the heating equipment. We also had to manage the different parts of the project as one programme, from the new electrical supply to the external plant compound. That coordination was especially important at a nursery, where the needs of building users remained part of the planning.
The work was completed within a six-week programme. The nursery now has a modern heating system in place of its ageing gas-fired plant, reducing reliance on fossil fuel heating. It provides a practical, lower-carbon solution for the building and supports the client’s wider sustainability objectives.
